It's almost garden season time for us. Some of you are already way ahead with your flowers and plants. Our bulb plants are just opening.

Rick has started his plants in the kitchen once again.

I'm always on the lookout for different accents for the yard without looking trailer trashy.

Found a slightly smaller version of this today. I could not walk away from it, though I like the shapes on mine a bit better.Once it's in the yard and things look pretty, I'll take a pic.


So what's in your garden?

 

[attachment=37597:multi color hibiscus s.jpg]

The flower is 9" across. Great colors.
I'm working on close up shots in raw format.
When I get one cut out we'll see how it looks

fltsfshr

 

Up close.

[attachment=37598:multi color hibiscus close s.jpg]

 

Gorgeous! Did you get a macro?

 

You know old thing about reading all the directions?

I discovered I already had a capable lens. It's an 18 by 55mm nikkor with VR. I added a monopod for stability and started shooting in RAW format. My pics are 14 to 16 mb. I'm processing them through Nikon's NX-2 software and converting what you're seeing into a lesser density jpeg.

I can get closer.I have a remote so I can shoot with no movement but I haven't used it yet.

fltsfshr

 

I have almost no idea what you just said... I just got a lens. I've never tried to shoot raw, not sure what difference it makes. My 18-55 has the macro ability, but I can get even closer with the macro. I have image stabilizing on the lens, but using the tripod or bracing the lens in the camera in some way does seem to be a must, just can't keep steady that close.

 

I don't know what raw means but it's a setting on the menu. The physical size of the picture is huge. There seems to be a lot more you can do to a picture in raw format than you can in jpeg. Maybe someone else on here can tell you more but I think the detail level increases tremendously.

fltsfshr

 

I didn't understand it either. I've got a Canon SureShot.

Back on (or is it off) topic I've added another 8'x8' raised bed adjacent to last years but the only thing growing right now is the asparagus we planted in the old bed last year. It's doing great but we've got to figure out what to plant and where by this weekend.

I must have been an Inca in a past lifetime - these raised beds are so much easier than trying to till and amend the clay and chirt soil in our yard. It also keeps the weeds down a bit.

 

Raw vs. jpeg: TMI

 

Actually I could shoot RAW. My knowledge of RAW could be put on the head of a pin, if that. I know the images are much larger, they eat more space on the memory card and the computer, then they require processing. I have the Canon program that came with the camera for processing, or I could use another that I have, I just don't have the time for all that.

One of the photo forums (hobbyists) I hang out with had a discussion about RAW vs jpeg, the troops are divided.